Lid opener for receptacles



Jul-1e11, .1929. B, P L K 1.717.253

LID OPENER FOR RECEPTACLES Origigal Filed Nov. 23, 1926 Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,717,253 PATENT OFFICE.

BOHUMIL POLAK, F PRAHA-KARLIN, CZEGHOSLOVAKIA.

LID OPENER FOR RECEPTACLES.

Original application filed November 23, 1926, Serial No. 150,311, and in Czechoslovakia April 28, 1926. Divided and. this application filed November 29, 1927. Serial No. 236,569.

This invention relates to lid openers for closed receptacles, and proposes the construction of a sheet metal cam shaped device, which is reinforced against bending by being provided with an angular flange around its working edge. In order to ensure the certainty of engagement of this flange with the edge of the lid of the receptacle, the

invention contemplates the provision of a peripheral groove in the flange, forming edges facing the lid, one of which edges underlies the lid so that the edge of the latter lies within the groove of the opener.

The present invention is. one of the modifications of the invention disclosed in my pending application No. 150,311, filed November 9.3, 1926, of which the present application is a division.

In the drawing, in which similar parts are designated by the same character of reference, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel lid openerfor receptacles, forming the subject matter of the present application. Figs. 2 and 3 being sections taken along the lines 22 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, the lid opener comprises .asheet metal member a which in the present instance is of general elongated or oval form. This member is pivoted against the side of the receptacle as is indicated at b in Fig. 3 and is designed to work edgewise against the edge of the lid of the receptacle. For the pu pose of reinforcement against bending, the member a is provided with the angular flange in, extending around its working edge, and said flange is formed as is indicated in Fig. 3 with a groove f so as to provide an edge capable of underlying the free edge of the lid of the receptacle in the normal closed position of the said lid, so that the latter is permanently seated in said groove. As is shown in Fig. 3, the side of the receptacle is slightly depressed, belowthe level of the edge of the lid providing a slightly indented seat for the lid opener, so that while the groove of the latter receives the edge of the lidof the receptacle, it at the same time permits the lid to make a close fit with the side wall of the receptacle. 7

In the present case, in contra-distinction to the other modifications disclosed in my said pending application, the present device is formed with but a singlefinger grip 0?,

instead of two, and in carrying out the invention as thus modified, the oval portion is pivoted at one of-the foci of the ellipse, the finger grip, which takes the form of a handle, extending from the opposite side of the pivotal connection to that of the major portion of the oval member, so that in fact the pivotal connection is substantially at the middle of the longitudinal dimension of the device.

The handle may be made of any desired shape, but is here shown as being considerably narrowed relative to the Width of the oval portion of the opener. The handle is reinforced by striking up the metal as shown at Z and extends outwardly from the receptacle to a suitable distance. Instead of being gripped, it is preferably pressed by the thumb, downwardly from the lid of the receptacle, the opening action taking place between the opposite end of the oval member and the lid. In this manner the maximum opening leverage is obtained. y

Furthermore, in operating the handle in this manner, the risk of the thumb slipping off and striking the edge of the lid is entirely avoided. I

It is of course conceivable that this simplified form of the invention is capable of being realized by various details of construction, and it is to be understood therefore that the precise structure as defined is merely illustrative and not necessarily limitative in its relation to the inventive concept.

What I claim is A lid opening device for receptacles comprising in combination, a receptacle having a telescoping lid, said receptacle having a slightly depressed area at one point, below said lid, a sheet metal cam member of oval form adapted to be pivotally connected adjacent one of its foci to the receptacle in said depressed area, said member being stiffened by means of an integral peripheral flange, the

latter being grooved toreceive the edge of the I lid, and a single handle for said cam member, extending outwardly from the peripheral edge thereof in the line of its major axis on theside of said pivotal connection opposite to the major portion of said cam member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BOHUMIL ro AK. 

